From Reality TV to a Fairytale Wedding in Croatia: Giannina Gibelli and Blake Horstmann’s Happy Ending

The wedding of Giannina Gibelli and Blake Horstmann marked the beginning of a new chapter in their lives as the reality TV couple celebrated a weeklong European destination wedding that culminated in a romantic ceremony in Rovinj, Croatia. Surrounded by nearly 100 guests, including several familiar faces from Love Is Blind, The Bachelor and Bachelor in Paradise, the pair exchanged vows in front of family and friends after years of building a relationship that began far from the shows that first made them famous.

For Giannina Gibelli, Croatia was much more than a picturesque wedding destination. The Love Is Blind star has long considered the country a special place in her heart. With Croatian heritage on her mother’s side, she felt an immediate connection the first time she visited, years before meeting Blake Horstmann. That early experience stayed with her and eventually inspired her decision to return for one of the most important moments of her life.

“I felt at home and knew that one day this was where I would get married,” she recalled of her first trip. “To me, Croatia is the love child of Italy and Greece — the same blue sky waters, sweet crisp wine and food that reminds me of Sunday dinner. I wanted to remember the feeling of being here to start off my marriage in bliss and also gift the same experience to our guests.”

She added, “I wanted our guests to fall in love with Croatia as much as I did. It’s such a gem, and I knew it wouldn’t disappoint.”

Travel has always been a defining part of Gibelli and Horstmann’s relationship, so they envisioned a wedding experience that felt like a journey rather than a single-day celebration. The festivities began in Venice, Italy, where guests explored the city’s iconic canals and historic landmarks before gathering for a welcome party at Ristorante Agli Archi. The evening featured dinner, dancing and an atmosphere designed to capture the romance of Italian culture.

“We wanted everyone to feel the whimsy and joy of la dolce vita at some point, so starting off in Venice felt so romantic, and planning that was really fun since it’s such an iconic, robust place,” Gibelli said.

After Venice, the group traveled by ferry to Rovinj, a coastal town known for its colorful architecture and Adriatic views. On the eve of the wedding, the couple hosted a rehearsal celebration at the cliffside Valentino Cocktail & Champagne Bar. Guests enjoyed appetizers, dancing and heartfelt toasts while dressed in blue as a nod to the traditional “something blue” wedding custom.

The ceremony itself took place outdoors at the Mauzolej on St. Andrews Island, just off the coast of Rovinj. Against a backdrop of sea and sky, Giannina walked down the aisle with her father to a violin rendition of Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You.” She wore Galia Lahav Couture’s Opéra gown and matching Opéra veil, a look she described as the dress she knew was meant for her almost instantly.

“I went to the Little White Dress in Denver to take a peek right after our engagement and unexpectedly ended up finding my dress that very day,” she recalled. “It was the first one I picked out and the last one I tried on, and every time I would try on a dress I would say, ‘I wish it was this or that,’ unknowingly describing that very dress. So when I put it on, I immediately started shaking and crying, the sun literally parted and shone down on me out of all the stations in the warehouse, and all the moms started nudging each other and nodding at me.”

“I knew deep down I’d found it and didn’t need to look elsewhere,” Gibelli said. “It was the perfectly divine moment you’d want when finding your wedding dress.”

Meanwhile, Horstmann walked to the altar accompanied by his mother. The ceremony was officiated by one of Gibelli’s cousins and included a special role for the couple’s two-year-old son, Heath, who served as ring bearer. Other children from the family participated as flower girls and bubble boys, creating a warm and personal atmosphere throughout the ceremony.

One of the most emotional moments came when the bride and groom exchanged handwritten vows.

“The mission was to get the other to cry as hard as possible,” Horstmann joked.

Following the ceremony, guests moved to the historic Hutterott Castle for a seaside reception. A four-course dinner highlighted Croatian culinary traditions, with seafood playing a central role in the menu.

“Since we’re on an island, we wanted seafood to play a part in the experience,” Horstmann explained. “Croatia’s national food is the oyster, and that happens to be one of our absolute favorites, so we clearly had to play into it.”

Dessert included tiramisu, traditional Croatian sweets decorated with fruit and two wedding cakes. One was a classic tiered wedding cake selected at Horstmann’s request, while the other was a light amaretto sponge cake favored by the bride.

The newlyweds had no intention of ending the evening early. Known among friends for hosting lively gatherings, they wanted their reception to feel more like a celebration than a formal event.

“Blake is a DJ, and we’re very used to throwing a party and providing the vibes to the function, so we really wanted it to feel like an elevated banger of a party,” Gibelli said.

According to Horstmann, the festivities continued late into the night and featured a tradition known as “La Hora Loca,” or “The Crazy Hour.”

“In G’s culture, there’s a moment that’s called ‘La Hora Loca,’ or ‘The Crazy Hour,’ where it’s the second wind of the party, and performers come out and midnight snacks are served. Since we had the venue until 4 a.m., that was something we knew was essential,” he explained.

The week concluded with a recovery boat day along Croatia’s coastline, giving guests an opportunity to relax after several days of celebrations.

“Since Croatia has been voted among the top ten beaches in the world, we wanted to make sure we sailed the coast since no one loves a leisure day more than us,” Gibelli said.

After saying goodbye to their guests, the newlyweds headed to Santorini, Greece, for a mini-moon. They also revealed plans for a safari honeymoon later in the year.

Reflecting on the experience, Gibelli described the celebration as much more than a wedding.

“[It was] a celebration of love and serendipity, something we never thought would happen the way it did, but everything magically came together in its own divine timing, just perfectly imperfect.”

The journey that brought the couple to this moment has been closely followed by reality television audiences for years. Giannina Gibelli first rose to prominence in 2020 as one of the breakout stars of Netflix’s Love Is Blind. Her relationship with Damian Powers became one of the show’s central storylines, capturing viewers’ attention through a mix of passion, vulnerability and conflict. Although the couple became engaged during the experiment, their relationship eventually unraveled both on and off screen.

The highly publicized breakup was difficult for Gibelli, but it also marked a turning point in her life. Rather than retreating from public attention, she continued building her career as a television personality, influencer and media figure. Her honesty about heartbreak, personal growth and self-discovery resonated with many viewers who had followed her journey from the beginning.

Blake Horstmann’s path to reality television fame began with The Bachelorette before he became one of the most recognizable figures within Bachelor Nation through Bachelor in Paradise. Throughout his years in the spotlight, Horstmann experienced both popularity and controversy, particularly regarding his dating life after appearing on reality television. While those moments often generated headlines, they also contributed to his evolution from a reality TV contestant into a more mature public figure focused on business ventures, entertainment projects and his work as a DJ.

Ironically, neither Gibelli nor Horstmann met their future spouse on the shows that made them famous. Instead, their paths crossed during the filming of All Star Shore, a crossover reality series that brought together personalities from various franchises. What began as an unexpected connection quickly developed into something far more significant.

According to both stars, they were practically inseparable from the moment they met. Their relationship progressed steadily despite the pressures of public scrutiny, travel schedules and demanding careers. Friends and fans often noted how naturally the two seemed to complement each other, balancing Blake’s outgoing energy with Giannina’s emotional depth.

Their bond deepened further when they welcomed their son Heath in April 2024. Becoming parents transformed their priorities and strengthened their commitment to building a life together. Just months later, Horstmann proposed during a surprise engagement in Madrid’s Parque del Retiro, creating another milestone that was widely celebrated by their supporters.

Marriage carries particular significance for Gibelli because of her personal history. Having grown up as a child of divorced parents, she previously admitted that she never imagined herself getting married. In many ways, her participation in Love Is Blind began as an effort to confront fears and insecurities surrounding relationships and commitment.

“Now, I get to do [marriage] with the love of my life and the father of my child,” she said. “It’s the biggest commitment I’ll ever make apart from being a mom, and I treasure the responsibilities and meaning of being his partner in life on a much deeper level.”

When asked what she admires most about Horstmann, Gibelli pointed to qualities she considers increasingly rare.

“It’s really rare to find that quality in a person, especially when you’re looking to build a life together,” she said. “We do absolutely everything together — we raise our child, work, exercise, travel.”

For his part, Horstmann credits his wife with helping him appreciate the present moment.

“I am envious of her ability to put all the stresses of life away for moments that are special for us,” he said, calling it her “super power.”

As they begin married life together, the couple say they hope to expand their family, continue pursuing professional opportunities and maintain the values that have guided them through the years. After navigating public breakups, reality television pressures and intense media attention, Giannina Gibelli and Blake Horstmann have arrived at a place they once may not have imagined possible.

For them, the wedding in Croatia represented more than a legal union. It was the culmination of years of growth, healing and unexpected twists of fate. Having found love after heartbreak and stability after uncertainty, they now look ahead to a future centered on family, partnership and shared dreams.

“The only thing that matters is us and our family, and the rest will follow,” Gibelli said.

The statement serves as a fitting summary of the chapter they are now beginning together—one built not on reality television storylines, but on the reality of a life they have chosen to create side by side.